when is a survivor NOT a survivor? i need advise.

[Michael S.]

ok here is my situation. on aug 7th of 2019 i heard of a 1964 corvette for sale. i contacted Gail the owner. the car was bought in 1964 by her husband. it is a numbers matching car. some what. keep reading. the car had been stored in the husbands mothers garage for at least 5 years. the mother died so the car was put in the back yard at Gail's house and covered with a tarp where it sat for another 25 years. the plate on the rear of the car is a 1968 plate.

the story: the owner-Jim- bought the car in 64. he wanted a left over split window but the sales man talked him into the 64. Gail says he regretted it for years after.

now the car: is it a survivor? here is what i know about the car. (i have had my own body shop for over 40 years) it is a 64 build date Dec 6th 1963. the mileage is 37445. it is a 365 h.p. car. 4 speed posi. the numbers are matching except one head. i know he raced the car back in the day at bridgehampton race track due to all the stuff found in the car and plaque's on the glove box door. i knew some thing was up when i opened the glove box to find a rocker arm. the car was also hit in the nose at some point. the radiator is dated Dec of 65. the paint is pealing and you can see the silver under neath. who ever replaced the nose did a fantastic job. replacing it at the seams and saving the 64 fender side scoops. even under the car it is very hard to tell it has been replaced. other then it having a 66-67 plain hood. NOW the rest of the car is all original. the paint is ok but bubbling and chipping every where. the interior needs new rugs and center console. the seats are ok but the drivers side has black tape over a spot on the top back of the seat. the whole car is seized up. i am going to have a lot of fun trying to remove the brake drums. i plan on going thru the engine, trans, rear, brakes and every thing else.

i have had a few people that "know" vets look at the car, i have also talked to the ncrs leader here on the island. most say leave the car as is but then say "it's your car, do it your way".

the car does not have air or power steering/windows. i did have an air coupe in the past and on hot days the a/c was needed. i want to do a frame off restoration on the car and add a/c, power windows, and power steering. it has power brakes. also switch to a duel master, for safety, and disc in the front. with the up grades i would only do it with all gm original parts. not after market hang on a/c. i would then go down to glass and repaint the car in a base coat clear coat. as i have to go thru the engine, trans, rear, brakes, and the rugs are rotted so it needs rugs and i would have to go thru every moving part just to drive it! adding air and doing a repaint really does not add that much to the job at hand already.

i would do all i can to keep it as original as i can but i do want the air, the power steering is just bolt on items and if i have to change the wiring to do it i may as well put in power windows.

so as you can tell, i just don't know what to do. if the nose had not been replaced that would lead me to leave the car alone.

i am asking for your opinion. i know doing it "my way" will take a lot longer to do and cost a lot more. i am not in a hurry to finish it.

SO. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF THIS WAS YOUR CAR?

[Michael S.]

Re: when is a survivor NOT a survivor? i need advise.

[Jimmy G.]

Re: when is a survivor NOT a survivor? i need advise.

You have a difficult decision. From the pictures it might be possible to get a star or two or perhaps more at NCRS Survivor -- cant say. The issue is What can we as NCRS restorers learn from the car Again from the one photo - not much I think. Best option is to take it to a chapter or regional meet and have qualified NCRS 500 +++ judges give their opinion after looking it over.

My personal opinion would be to restore it and drive the heck out of it. 365 coupes make wonderful drivers None of that power steering etc to get in the way of a good ride

[James W.]

[Kent S.]

Re: when is a survivor NOT a survivor? i need advise.

Here's my .02 cents:

Assuming you want to keep the car, I'd do all the upgrades you mentioned to make it a nice dependable driver. My only exception is using the factory air. You'll spend a lot of money finding and restoring a factory system compared to using an aftermarket (Vintage Air) unit. You can use one of their compressors that looks correct under the hood and actually most of the ducting inside is "factory"-like. I've had several coupes and have first hand experience - the factory system is "cool" but the VA system will freeze you out for 1/3 the price.

[James G.]

Re: when is a survivor NOT a survivor? i need advise.

Here's my .02 cents:

Assuming you want to keep the car, I'd do all the upgrades you mentioned to make it a nice dependable driver. My only exception is using the factory air. You'll spend a lot of money finding and restoring a factory system compared to using an aftermarket (Vintage Air) unit. You can use one of their compressors that looks correct under the hood and actually most of the ducting inside is "factory"-like. I've had several coupes and have first hand experience - the factory system is "cool" but the VA system will freeze you out for 1/3 the price.

I agree. 365hp with AC was a rare option. 243 coupes and 138 convertible in 64 had the option with the 365 engine. Special large AC compressor pully was installed, to slow the RPM pulley speed and save compressor seals.

Your dash plaque shows a SCCA time trial which was basically a ''SOLO ONE'' event where each car ran the track against the clock, not side by side door to door competition. Drivers trained in these events before entering SCCA A/P and B/P events.

Take the car to a CHAPTER or REGIONAL event once you get it running, and judges and membership will help you get it qualified for the judging event you want to do.

Cost and your wallet size will answer many questions

[Michael S.]

Re: when is a survivor NOT a survivor? i need advise.

@jim gregg, at my age? i feel a lot older then i am, power steering will be a nice up grade.
@jim west, i have done -to say the least- a few restorations in my time. when i picked the car up from where it was i thought the frame would be toast. when i put it on my lift, and after an hour or two of blowing out all the mice nests and acorns from the car, i have named it the acorn project, i too thought the frame would be too bad to repair. i took a pick hammer and wailed on the frame. i did not care if it fell apart as i was expecting it. you can imagine my surprise when the frame turned out to be solid as a rock. yes even at the rear trailing arms. i still can not believe it.
@kent your right on the extra money and work needed to go factory but that is a hang up i have. i'll put the air in but only with factory parts. i have found four people with the complete set up.

thank you for your opinions.

[Michael S.]

Re: when is a survivor NOT a survivor? i need advise.

@ jim gessner, yes i know it was a rare option. but back then gm knew how many cars were built with a/c but not which vin got it. it is not like today that the vin tells all. so yes if i put in a/c it will be "after market" but with all gm parts it will appear as factory. there are many more items in the car that tell me it was raced at the track. that pic is just one of many of the things found in the car. also with all the positive camber in the wheels i think he played weekend worrier. thank you for your help. if any one would like more pic's e mail me at mejs1956@aol.com. i will send them to you. please put corvette in header so i do not delete you. i dont open e mails if i do not know were it came from.

[William M.]

Re: when is a survivor NOT a survivor? i need advise.

Agree. The frame is probably shot from sitting in that mud, so count on repairs or replacement depending on how bad.

[Michael S.]

Re: when is a survivor NOT a survivor? i need advise.

@william mehrkens. the frame is solid. yes even to my surprise.

[Alan D.]

[Michael S.]

Re: when is a survivor NOT a survivor? i need advise.

@allen, i am on the north fork of long island. take the ferry and come over to look for yourself. i have started a book on the car with tons of pic's. there is a meeting on the 29th here on the island. i am going and taking my book. i welcome any one to come look at the car.

[Duke W.]

Re: when is a survivor NOT a survivor? i need advise.

I'm curious... since the car has apparently been off the road since '68 and was raced in the mid-sixties, what tires are installed... make, model, size? It's difficult to see from the photos, but the shoulder tread pattern on the rear tire looks like an old Pirelli.

Duke

[Tim G.]

Re: when is a survivor NOT a survivor? i need advise.

I wouldn't do anything drastic until you have it viewed by some other Corvette folks. It may be able to be saved as a mostly original car even if it is not Bow Tie worthy in all areas.

[Gary J.]

Re: when is a survivor NOT a survivor? i need advise.

I agree. 365hp with AC was a rare option. 243 coupes and 138 convertible in 64 had the option with the 365 engine. Special large AC compressor pully was installed, to slow the RPM pulley speed and save compressor seals.

Your dash plaque shows a SCCA time trial which was basically a ''SOLO ONE'' event where each car ran the track against the clock, not side by side door to door competition. Drivers trained in these events before entering SCCA A/P and B/P events.




Take the car to a CHAPTER or REGIONAL event once you get it running, and judges and membership will help you get it qualified for the judging event you want to do.

Cost and your wallet size will answer many questions